# Phonograms by SEI vs Spalding University

The clearest difference is price: Spalding University at Free against Phonograms by SEI's $3.99. Phonograms by SEI's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 22 months) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Spalding University is free to download; Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phonograms by SEI ships an update every 4 months, Spalding University every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phonograms by SEI | Spalding University |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[1.8 (234 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **234** | — |
| Positive reviews | 19.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 22 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spalding Education International](https://appshunter.io/developer/934525007) | [Spalding University Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1094382234) |

## What reviewers say

### Phonograms by SEI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Paid · Education, #166 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app helps students learn the connection between speech sounds and written symbols (phonograms). Mastering phonograms is crucial for accurate reading, writing, and spelling, expanding vocabulary and improving communication skills.

**Highlights:** Learn phonogram sound-symbol relationships, Phonogram introduction by group, Oral phonogram review with sound check, Written phonogram review with writing practice, Differentiated practice for specific phonograms, Supports phonemic awareness and letter recognition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effective for learning phonograms and improving reading skills
- 🎯 Differentiated practice allows selecting specific phonograms
- 🔊 Clear audio narration when functioning properly
- 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad)
- 💰 Affordable price point at $3.99-$4.27

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Sound frequently doesn't work or is inconsistent
- 🐛 Written practice shows blank/black screen
- ⚙️ Poor app design and user interface
- 🔧 Requires phone settings changes to function properly
- ⏱️ Slow performance and long loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not playing despite volume settings being correct
- Written phonogram review displays blank screen
- App requires phone ringer to be off silent mode for audio
- Letters not visible in dark mode display
- Written practice button 'Show Me' displays nothing

**Requested features**

- Save selected phonogram lists for future sessions
- Allow writing directly in the app instead of on paper
- Add FAQ or troubleshooting guide
- Implement dark mode compatibility
- Enable sound to work while phone is on silent


### Spalding University

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spalding-university/id6443938116)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phonograms by SEI free?

Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spalding University free?

Spalding University is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Phonograms by SEI or Spalding University have ads?

Neither Phonograms by SEI nor Spalding University shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phonograms by SEI or Spalding University?

Phonograms by SEI ships an update every 4 months, and Spalding University every 22 months. Most recently, Phonograms by SEI was updated on October 29, 2026 and Spalding University on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*